This morning Chip Kidd had the honor of appearing on NPR Radio in New York City, specifically their podcast for “NPR Books”. The main topic was, “In The E-Book World, Are Book Covers A Dying Art?”. Please CLICK HERE so you can give it a listen and also let us know what YOU think. Thanks, and Thank You NPR BOOKS!

This is just a quick post to share some amazing Bookshelf & Bookcase Design ideas that will hopefully inspire you. OK, we’re not quite sure where you would find some old Piano parts but you have to admit it’s clever, ha! So, create a list of materials needed and then go hit your local Lumber Store this weekend, get busy!

In this “Typography 101″ Instructional Video, Karen Kavett explains how to identify fonts. Yes, impress your friends and Co-Workers with this amazing knowledge. Know the difference between Garamond & Baskerville. Warning: They may think you’re a Witch & try to burn you at the stake.

THE LINKAGE:
Linotype FontExplorer:
http://www.fontexplorerx.com/

Websites that can help you identify fonts:
http://www.identifont.com/identify.html
http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
http://www.whatfontis.com/

And try the forum on Typophile if you’re really stuck:
http://typophile.com/typeid

Find me online!
http://karenkavett.com

In this outtake from Gary Hustwit’s 2007 documentary “Helvetica”, type designers Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones discuss the creation of Gotham. The font was originally commissioned for GQ Magazine but went on to have another life altogether.

Logos surround us in digital and physical space, but we rarely examine the thought and artistic thinking that goes into the design of these symbols. Utilizing a silent vocabulary of colors, shapes, and typography, Logo Designers give a visual identity to companies and organizations of all types. From Cave Painters to modern Designers, Artists throughout history have been reducing the complex down to simple ideas that communicate with the world.

This video is funny, because it’s a true response many Freelance Designers can get while working out in the field, but it’s also pretty serious. It’s all about Clients who think Photographers should work for free “because their work is easy to do. Plus, if they do it for free it’s not a big deal because they will get a free by-line which will give them good exposure”, LOL! Graphic Designers, Artists, Web Masters, Illustrators, Copy Writers, etc… can all relate to this! Plus, the character’s response to this is very well thought out and could be the very thing you need to say to your next Client. Remember, “Exposure Doesn’t Pay Bills”.

Just a quick post to thank Stefan Blitz for writing a very excellent Book Review of Abram’s THE ART AND MAKING OF THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY over at his FORCES OF GEEK Website! It’s very well written and I have to admit that I love all the photos he included, ha! This is one of the latest books designed by Chip Kidd that features special behind the scenes photos ( most never seen before ) of the making of all three Christopher Nolan Batman movies, including this year’s Blockbuster Film, “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”.

This brand-new book is on sale now so please visit the FORCES OF GEEK for Stefan’s Article! Wait, hold on, I almost forgot to mention that his website is also holding a contest where you can WIN A FREE COPY of this book, duh!!

Shown up above is Chris Ware's Poster Art for this year’s SMALL PRESS EXPO, the event of 2012! This show celebrates 200,000 years of Non-Mainstream Publishing Activity. The show starts on Saturday, September 15th, at 11:00am and runs till 7:00pm. Then, it’s open again on Sunday, Sept. 16th from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. Admission for one day is $10.00, or get in both days for $15.00! This year it will be held at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Some Special Guests of Honor include: Chris Ware, Dan Clowes, Adrian Tomine, Francoise Mouly, Nick Abadzis, Michael DeForge, plus Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez! Also, there will be a special film presentation by Mark Newgarden. For more information, just CLICK HERE!

Every Graphic Design Student in the World should be forced to watch this video! Anybody sick of Trajan? What is Trajan? Trajan is the movie font. In this funny “Educational Video” by Kirby Ferguson we get to learn what the Trajan font is and experience how it is wayyy over-used in Modern Movie Poster design, funny stuff! Oh yeah, Kirby also writes a blog called GOODIE BAG that is pretty interesting, check it out sometime!

This particular post was created to share an extremely excellent podcast interview of Chip Kidd done awhile back by Debbie Millman. For the few people unfamiliar with her work: she is a Partner and President of the design division at Sterling Brands, one of the leading brand identity firms in the country. Millman is President Emeritus of AIGA, and chair of the School of Visual Arts’ Master’s Program in Branding. She is a contributing editor to Print magazine and host of the podcast “Design Matters.” She is also the Author of many excellent books on Branding & Graphic Design, whew!

OK, now, we could not embed the podcast here at this site but please follow this LINK to the “DESIGN OBSERVER” where you can listen to it. If you’re a fan of Chip Kidd, or just love Graphic Design in general, then you’ll really love it. It’s really well done & also entertaining as well. It was done around the time Chip Kidd wrote his 2 Books: “The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters” and “The Learners: A Novel”. But, they are not the only focus of the interview because they also do an excellent job of covering many different aspects of Design. So, go check it out!

Whoops! One last thing, if you would like to learn more about Debbie Millman then please be sure to visit her website by clicking HERE!